What You Need To Know Before You Buy

Please read the following "must know" items before purchasing TheSky Pocket Edition.

Windows Mobile Device Issues

TheSky Pocket Edition requires a Windows Mobile device. It is NOT compatible with the Palm handheld devices from Palm, Inc. such as the Palm III, Palm V, or Palm VII models.
The $79.00 TheSky Pocket Edition (software) does not include a Windows Mobile device (computer). Windows Mobile devices must be purchased separately.
Software Bisque does not sell Windows Mobile devices.
TheSky Pocket Edition is a "purely digital product" (or PDP); it is distributed exclusively via Internet download. There are no CD-ROMs, printed manuals or user-registration cards involved.
When you purchase TheSky Pocket Edition, you will be sent an e-mail that provides your serial number and step-by-step instructions on how to download the product. No additional packaging, software media or documentation is necessary.
You must identify which type of mobile device you own, either a Palm-size PC, Handheld PC or Pocket PC Mobile device. The setup file you download depends upon your device. If you own more than one of these devices, you can download multiple setup files.
Processing your TheSky Pocket Edition order usually takes 3-6 business days. Immediately after you've placed an order for TheSky Pocket Edition from our web page, you'll receive an e-mail confirming you've placed an order with Software Bisque. Once this order has been processed, you will be sent a second e-mail that contains a password to unlock the installation program and a serial number for your copy of TheSky Pocket Edition.
There are several different variants of mobile devices sold today: Palm-size PCs (older, out of date), Handheld PCs (older, out of date) and Pocket PCs (most common), Pocket PC Phones, and Smart Phones. You need to be able to identify which device you own in order to download the correct installation program. All mobile devices are printed with a small Windows logo that bears one of the above mobile device names.
TheSky Pocket Edition will run on virtually any Windows Mobile devices currently sold.
TheSky Pocket Edition will run on any device with 4 MB free RAM running:
Windows CE OS version 2.11 (older, out of date)
Handheld PC running the Handheld PC Professional software (older, out of date)
Handheld PC running the Windows 2000 CE operating system.
A Windows Mobile device with Windows CE version 3.0 operating system.
A Windows Mobile device with Windows Pocket PC 2002 operating system.
A Windows Mobile device with Windows Pocket PC 2003 operating system.
A Windows Mobile device with Windows CE 5 operating system.

Telescope Control and Cabling Issues

If you want to control your telescope using a Windows Mobile Device using its USB/RS232 port, make sure that the mobile device can be connected to a DB9 COM port. Many mobile devices use a Universal Serial Bus (USB) adaptor to communicate with the PC, and do not have compatible RS232 serial cables.

Examples:

Mobile devices can have either a USB Cradle, or a Serial Cradle (see HP iPAQ Accessories on the HP Home Page).

HP offers USB/Serial Autosync Cable for iPAQs that are compatible with RS232 telescopes.
Casio offers a universal Serial Cable Adaptor (Casio Part No. JK-580CA) that connects directly to the mobile device, eliminating the need for the cradle.
Several third-party cable manufacturers supply RS232-compatible cables for different model Windows Mobile devices. See Gomadic or PC-Mobile for example.

See TheSky Pocket Edition Telescope Help site for telescope cabling requirements.